Chapter 1198: Entering the 16th Disk

Meng Qi calmed down and said coldly, “Even if you kill me, I won’t take off my clothes. Keep dreaming…” She hesitated. If Ye Mo wanted her, he wouldn't need her permission. Could she resist him? And why would he even want to now?

Besides, Ye Mo was right—if she went out, could her master truly protect her? She couldn't even commit suicide in front of Yong Lanyi. No matter Ye Mo's intentions, he was just one person. She'd treat this as a nightmare. This thought calmed her fury. She began loosening her clothes, saying coldly, “Okay, I agree. I hope after you're done, you'll keep your promise and take me out of here.”

Ye Mo smiled gently. “Martial Sister Meng, you needn't remove your clothes; you've misunderstood. I need to check your body for any marks—a necessary examination. But I'm not obligated to take you out. If you're unwilling, I won't force you. However, let me be clear: if I reach the 18th disk, you're not coming with me.”

Meng Qi, dazed, understood. Her face flushed crimson. She stammered, “Martial Brother Ye, you mean I've been marked?”

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes. It's your decision, but you understand.”

Meng Qi quietly replied, “Sorry, Martial Brother Ye. I misjudged you. Please check me. I won't resist.”

Ye Mo, pleased by her decisiveness, nodded. Without it, she would be a liability. “Relax,” he said, taking her wrist. His spirit sense scanned her thoroughly, even her fingernails. Meng Qi couldn't feel it, but she knew what he was doing. She felt Ye Mo's presence not just on her wrist, but all over her body, making her tremble.

Burning with embarrassment, she knew she had no privacy. She desperately wanted to leave the Qu 18 Disks, use the space travel rune to escape Luo Yue continent, and never see Ye Mo again.

Suddenly, Ye Mo released her wrist, a small black spot appearing in his hand. Meng Qi, seeing it clearly with her spirit sense, asked slowly, “Martial Brother Ye, is this the spirit sense mark on my body?”

Ye Mo breathed a sigh of relief; he'd feared he wouldn't find it. He nodded. “Yes.”

Meng Qi stared blankly, despairing. She didn't know who marked her, and the thought of her kind master secretly doing so devastated her.

Ye Mo, sensing her thoughts, comforted her, “It's probably not your master's. This spirit sense mark belongs to a Truth Realization state cultivator, and a powerful one at that.”

Meng Qi, shaken, murmured, “I understand.”

She recalled her master taking her to Vice Alliance Leader Tie Ha, who'd tested her talent. Tie Ha, a Truth Realization state cultivator and her master's patron, must have left the mark. Her master would know.

Though saddened, she remembered her master's saving grace and calmed down. Her embarrassment faded as she looked at the black dot. “Martial Brother Ye, can you destroy it?”

Ye Mo smiled. “Why would I?”

Destroying it would give away their advantage. As long as the mark remained, they wouldn't be overly suspicious of Meng Qi.

Ye Mo produced his formation flag, setting up a trap formation within 15 minutes in the 14th disk, concealing the mark. Then, he took her and left.

The disks contained high-level seven formations, but Ye Mo, on the verge of a breakthrough, easily bypassed them. He navigated them skillfully, bringing Meng Qi into the 15th disk.

Here, the oppressive dampness was gone, replaced by a far denser spiritual energy. “Such dense spirit chi!” Meng Qi exclaimed.

“Martial Brother Ye,” she asked suddenly, “If I used the space travel rune here, could I leave?”

Ye Mo shook his head. “I don't know, but I don't recommend it. Failure would teleport you to Yong Lanyi, causing me trouble as well.”

Meng Qi insisted, “I won't betray your plans.”

Ye Mo shook his head. “Yong Lanyi wouldn't need you to tell him; he'd know anyway.”

Meng Qi shuddered. How could she match the abilities of a Truth Realization state cultivator? Could he not soul-search her?

She fell silent, following Ye Mo, observing the 15th disk formations. She didn't recognize a single one, yet knew each could stop them.

The 15th disk began with ordinary level eight formations. Even though Ye Mo was nearing a breakthrough, he was still only a level eight formation grandmaster, slowing his progress. Meng Qi followed closely, afraid to fall behind.

The formations amazed Ye Mo. He couldn't believe he found level seven spirit herbs—likely due to the greatly increased spirit chi. He studied the formations while collecting herbs.

If Meng Qi didn’t know Ye Mo could enter the Qu 18 Disks, she'd think he was a thousand-year-old cultivator. Otherwise, how could he move so freely?

Within a day, they reached the 16th disk, Ye Mo's formation skills having improved significantly. He remained within the realm of level eight formation grandmaster, however.

Entering the 16th disk, they felt an even denser spiritual energy. Meng Qi breathed deeply, awestruck. “I’d love to cultivate here for a few years. I'd surely reach Body Condensation state.”

Ye Mo realized a powerful spirit range lay beneath them. The 16th disk held top-grade level eight formations, demanding his utmost caution. One mistake, and they'd be at Yong Lanyi's mercy.